Basque political prisoner dies in Spanish jail

BILBAO | 06-02-2014 | Basque Political Prisoner Arkaitz Bellon, 36, was found dead in the prison of Puerto de Santa Maria I, Cádiz, Southern Spain, on the afternoon of Wednesday 5th February.

Despite different informations, at this time the reason of his decease has not been cleared. Arkaitz Bellon was serving a 13 years in sentence for sabotage, accused of setting fire to 2 local buses. He would have been released next May.

He had served 12 years in different prisons away from the Basque Country and was currently held at 969km from his hometown, Elorrio. He denounced to be seriously beaten by officers last march in Sevilla as well as in previous years in Puerto III and Algerciras. He is the third Basque political prisoner to die in jail.

(ANF)